My late father, Evhen Lozynskyj, belonged to that Greatest Generation of Ukrainians who grew up and struggled between the world wars of the last century, and who continued to fight for our statehood until the end of their lives. In 1961, he wrote about the mission of our diaspora to support the people of Ukraine:
“From ancient times, idealistic principles have been deeply rooted in the spirit of the Ukrainian people. They formed the foundation of an idealistic worldview, whose central idea was the idea of the nation, its independence and the free development of its strength and values, and of its political and legal expression, the state.
Only the state can guarantee freedom and justice to every person within the framework of the common good of the nation, which is the fundamental and unshakable law of all social life.
The state is the collective good of the entire nation, of all its generations, living, dead, and yet unborn, bound together by common origin, language, history, culture, territory, and struggle.
Thus, in a condition of political enslavement, the foremost postulate for the Ukrainian nation is the achievement and creation of an Independent and Sovereign Ukrainian State. And it is the duty of every person of Ukrainian blood, wherever they live and whatever other homeland they may have, to serve the Ukrainian nation, especially when it is fighting for its very existence and freedom against the greatest enemy of humanity.”
Today we mark the thirty-fourth anniversary of our independence, the triumph of statehood. For a nation, there is no greater holiday, filled with joy and hope.
During these decades of renewed statehood, in Ukraine and abroad, our people have demonstrated extraordinary strength of will, respect for neighbors and minorities, diligence, understanding, and ingenuity. We remember the milestones of this determination:
- The Declaration of Sovereignty in July 1990,
- The Revolution on Granite in October 1990,
- The Proclamation of Independence on August 24, 1991,
- The Referendum of December 1, 1991,
- The Orange Revolution of 2004,
- The Revolution of Dignity of 2013–2014,
- The Protest Against Corruption in August 2025.
These are the achievements of a mature democratic people, a people with a thousand-year history of expressing their will, from princely councils to the election of Kozak hetmans, and a long tradition of divine inspiration and Christian mercy.
The scars of long years of statelessness and the heroic struggles of past generations have raised new generations who set themselves the task of never again allowing Ukraine to be without a state, despite great hardship, overwhelming force, or betrayal by others and by their own. Our state is now here for eternity. No one can erase our people from the face of the earth, and no one can take away from us our most precious treasure, our hard-won statehood.
Such is the fate of Ukraine and the Ukrainians. Even in celebration, we must not forget the shadow of the enemy who still gazes hungrily at our land and our people, with eyes of hatred and weapons aimed.
Today we celebrate, and today again we must prepare to defend ourselves. In these past three and a half years, the world has watched us with awe. We have earned that awe with our blood and with our resolve.
The holiday of our statehood is the celebration of our people, joined by the support of true friends. Every Ukrainian has reason to be proud, but also to remain ready for the struggles that lie ahead.
Our great poet Ivan Franko wrote: “To struggle means to live.” This is the credo of our existence and the mark of our unbroken spirit. We pray to the Almighty to grant us the strength, both spiritual and physical, to continue this struggle.
Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to its Heroes!
August 24, 2025
Askold S. Lozynskyj
